Nigerian police have revealed that a burst tyre caused the car crash that killed two people and left Anthony Joshua hospitalised on Monday, contradicting earlier reports that blamed excessive speed.
Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo said the tyre failure caused the driver of Joshua’s Lexus SUV to lose control before swerving into a stationary lorry parked on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The Federal Road Safety Corps had initially suggested the vehicle was exceeding the speed limit during an overtaking manoeuvre.
An eyewitness has provided new details about the moments leading up to the fatal collision. Adeniyi Orojo told The Punch newspaper that Joshua was seated behind the driver with another person beside him, whilst a passenger sat in the front. The two people who died—one seated beside the driver and one beside Joshua in the rear—were pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle was carrying four occupants in total. Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that five adult males were involved in the collision overall, with two fatalities, one person requiring hospital treatment, and two others escaping without injury. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Livewell Hospital Morgue in Sagamu for formal identification and post-mortem examinations.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken publicly for the first time since the accident. “We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is, but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images,” Hearn told the Daily Mail. The promoter said he was on a family holiday when he awoke to news of the incident.
Medical staff at a Lagos hospital have conducted several clinical assessments on the 35-year-old boxer. A joint statement from the governments of Ogun and Lagos states confirmed Joshua does not require emergency interventions and remains in a stable condition.
An unnamed relative of Joshua’s told the BBC the family had been expecting him to visit for the new year period. “We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away—I pray for the departed to rest in peace,” the relative said.
The timing of the accident raises questions about Joshua’s immediate boxing plans. Reports had suggested a possible February return to the ring, though this now appears uncertain. Joshua had used his post-fight interview following his knockout victory over Jake Paul on 19 December to call out fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury, with reports suggesting the two were close to agreeing a long-awaited showdown in Saudi Arabia in 2026.
Joshua posted a video of himself playing table tennis on Instagram on Monday morning, though he did not disclose his location. The former two-time world champion attended boarding school in Ikenne, approximately 85 kilometres from the crash site, before returning to Britain at the age of 12.
The Federal Road Safety Corps reported that it arrived at the scene within three minutes of being notified of the collision, which occurred around 11:00 local time in Makun, Ogun State.
The Ogun State Police Command has launched a thorough investigation into all circumstances surrounding the accident and has assured the public that further updates will be provided as inquiries progress. Police have extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
The Lagos-Ibadan expressway remains one of Nigeria’s busiest and most dangerous roads. December is a particularly busy period on Nigerian roads as members of the diaspora and citizens from across the country travel to visit family for the festive season.
